Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Friday that Florida lawmakers are likely to hold a special legislative session in July to advance a constitutional amendment providing homestead property tax relief ahead of a ballot-printing deadline. DeSantis said legislators will first complete work on the overdue state budget before turning to the tax measure. The proposal would…
The Florida Senate passed a major election integrity bill Thursday, requiring proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and tightening voter ID rules at polling places. The measure, HB 991, cleared on a party-line 27-12 vote. Republicans framed it as closing potential vulnerabilities in election security. Sen. Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach), the Senate sponsor, said:…
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Monday an expedited timeline for the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir, a key component of South Florida’s Everglades restoration efforts, with construction now scheduled for completion by 2029 — five years ahead of the original 2034 target.  Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle…
An Arcadia couple was stranded in the open Gulf of Mexico for more than six hours after their boat’s anchor failed while they were scuba diving about five miles offshore near Boca Grande. Antonio “Tony” Rivera and Brianna Rutledge surfaced from their dive around 2:30 p.m. to discover their unattended vessel had drifted away, apparently…
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor has revised controversial Tampa Police Department policies on immigration enforcement following a threat of removal from office by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier. In a letter sent Monday to the attorney general’s office, Castor confirmed the department updated its guidelines, removing language that had drawn scrutiny. The revised policy takes effect…
A nearly three hour workshop Friday morning by Highlands County school board members, has resulted in a call for a special meeting to discuss further budget cuts to the system. This time the focus will be on the main office of Superintendent of Schools Brenda Longshore. The planned afternoon session on May 11 will discuss…
Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul Renner has issued a sharp rebuke of state leadership as the Florida Legislature appeared poised to miss its deadline for the 2026-27 state budget. Renner, the former House Speaker now seeking the executive office, accused the House and Senate of “an abdication of responsibility,” urging lawmakers to set aside political friction…
Reports now indicate Florida Commerce Secretary J. Alex Kelly sent a letter to Ft. Meade Mayor Jaret Landon Williams cautioning that the city’s proposed 4.4-million-square-foot hyperscale data center campus northwest of downtown remains far from ready to move forward, citing significant risks to Central Florida’s energy capacity, water resources and transportation infrastructure.  Kelly described…
The Florida Department of State has officially designated Avon Park as a “Florida Main Street of the Month” for March 2026. The distinction places the city among only two programs selected for recognition out of more than 50 active Main Street organizations statewide. “We can’t even begin to explain how excitied we are right now,…
The Florida Legislature has passed a bill mandating that counties, municipalities, special districts and other local governments accept electronic payments—including credit cards, debit cards and electronic funds transfers—for taxes, fees, fines, civil penalties and court-ordered obligations, while also requiring online payment options. The measure, carried as House Bill 967 by Rep. James Buchanan, R-Tarpon Springs,…
